”We know that we’re right there to get that next point and advance in the playoffs,” an excited Callahan said regarding Brad Richards’ power play goal that forced OT with 2:57 left in regulation. Richards got a lucky bounce when his wide shot caromed off Dan Ellis and in.  His 11th extended his point streak to five and gave him nine points. 

”I’m really happy with the way we just stayed with it and found a way to win it,” a relieved John Tortorella remarked to MSG’s Sam Rosen afterwards. It would’ve been a shame to lose to another team playing for pride. As expected, the Canes didn’t quit when our team went up two. Instead, they came back scoring three straight including Jiri Tlusty’s rocket that put them ahead 49 seconds into the third period. Carolina scored on two of four shots to tie it in the second- capitalizing on Ranger mistakes. 

It looked like the Canes would hold on.  Despite having two shots (one of which went in), they were in position to help Winnipeg, who at the time had just gone up 2-1 in their season finale against Montreal. But Tuomu Ruutu took down Derek Stepan with under five minutes remaining. Up till that point, our power play had been awful. In fact, they had nothing going allowing Carolina to easily kill the first half. Tortorella changed forwards, sticking Mats Zuccarello and Taylor Pyatt out. Zuccarello missed a chance earlier. Pyatt recovered the puck and got it to Mike Del Zotto. Del Zotto’s dreadful turnover led to Tlusty’s go-ahead tally. He dished for Richards, who finally pulled the trigger. The puck took a funny hop off the boards and off Ellis for a huge goal. 

The Rangers got one point once regulation ended. They needed two to guarantee the postseason and avoid playing the Devils with Pete DeBoer chomping at the bit. It was pretty nerve racking watching the Canes search for the winner. They controlled the entire four-on-four, forcing Lundqvist to make four tough saves before Callahan delivered. At that point, Montreal and Winnipeg were tied 2-2 early in the third. There was nothing to chance. 

They’d backed off and took Joe Micheletti’s silly advice. Play for the shootout. Plain dumb. Even Jared Staal had a chance before his shot was blocked. As predicted, he received more ice-time than Chris Kreider, who was bumped up following Ryane Clowe taking an elbow from Bobby Sanguinetti that knocked him out of the game in the second. It didn’t look good. Hopefully, Clowe will be okay when the playoffs start. Right now, it’s either Tuesday or Wednesday. That’ll be determined later along with playoff seeding. The Rangers, Senators and Islanders are all tied with 54 points. Ottawa’s OT win sunk Winnipeg. They’re sixth due to holding an extra game. Our team is seventh and the Isles are eighth. 

It took an inspiring play from Captain Cally to put us in. Following a Ryan McDonagh clear, Stepan found Callahan at center ice where he worked puck past Marc-Andre Bergeron catching him. With his momentum carrying forward and nowhere else to go, he took the shot which caught Ellis leaning. The puck rang off the far post and in for Callahan’s dramatic winner. 

”That was just a sick play from start to finish,” a pumped Lundqvist stated while adding, “and it’s a good thing to see your captain put it home and put us in the playoffs.”

Early on, it looked like it would come easier. Some great passing helped set up Stepan’s 17th for a 1-0 lead 3:19 in. Callahan and Carl Hagelin combined to find Stepan, who buried the opportunity. It was Hagelin again who drew the primary helper on Derick Brassard’s 12th which put the Rangers up 2-0. Del Zotto added a secondary assist. Brassard’s play has been a big part of why they’re in the playoffs. He has played well. Since being acquired along with John Moore and Derek Dorsett for Marian Gaborik at the trade deadline, he’s tallied five goals and six assists for 11 points in 12 games. Moore has also contributed with five points (1-4-5) and a plus-seven. The Rangers are 8-3-1 since.

The Canes used a Matt Gilroy minor penalty to get back in it. Tlusty scored the first of two on the power play when he took a Jeff Skinner feed and beat Lundqvist. It was a total breakdown. Speaking of which, another horrible one led directly to Ruutu snapping his third past Hank. Four Rangers were trapped in the neutral zone including Anton Stralman, leaving Del Zotto left to defend a two-on-one. Ruutu’s goal followed Tlusty’s first exactly three minutes later. Ellis made a pair of stops to keep it knotted.

Tlusty steered the Canes in front off a Del Zotto turnover. Taking an Eric Staal pass, he walked in and beat Lundqvist to put the Rangers in trouble. Frustration mounted. Ellis was stopping everything and Rick Nash missed after Zuccarello put him in on a mini-breakaway. Stepan also failed on one with his backhand attempt stuffed. It looked like it was going to be another sleepless night. Thankfully, Richards’ prayer was anwered. Then Callahan did the rest.

3rd Star-Derek Stepan, NYR (17th of season, set up Cally’s winner-17-25-42 leads team in scoring)

2nd Star-Carl Hagelin, NYR (2 assists, 4 SOG-all over the ice)

1st Star-Ryan Callahan, NYR (playoff clinching goal at 2:55 of OT, assist-Captain Clutch)